Master's Rule Change Info

T. Kenji Sugahara

2010-02-11

As a point of clarification. The rule allows for Masters to be run with the
1/2/3, 3 or 4 fields. (there's no restriction within the rules)

On Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 9:20 PM, T. Kenji Sugahara wrote:

> FYI. In case folks wanted more information behind the Masters rule change-
> it's listed below. (includes rationale, change and effect)
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: T. Kenji Sugahara
> Date: Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 10:41 AM
> Subject: Promoter Update
> To: ""
>
>
> Folks-
>
> This is to let you know that the board passed a rule under the
> provision that allows the board to make changes if time is of the
> essence. During the annual meeting we presented a resolution that
> would have repealed 6.6.3. We withdrew the rule as we couldn't
> remember the rationale behind the withdrawal. However, while
> approving the first few races we realized that the rule actually
> creates a rather large problem for the Masters Women. In the past we
> allowed all the Masters Women to race with the Cat 4 Women. With
> 6.6.3 - only Cat 4 Masters could race with the Cat 4's and Cat 1/2/3
> Masters could only race with the Cat 1/2/3 women. However, with the
> new rule that passed this past session where there is a minimum of 5
> racers to have a group scored separately- the consequence was that in
> operation, 1/2/3 Masters were essentially eliminated as a field. A
> solution would be to run a separate Masters Women's field. However-
> that would create another field and increase costs for promoters-
> unfairly so. Thus- the board decided to change 6.6.3 to exempt the
> Masters Women.
>
> 6.6.3. Mixing of Classes. An organizer may offer races for combined
> classifications and categories but the categories in a given race must
> be the same for all age groups. All riders shall race the same
> distance unless there is a distance handicapped start for separate
> groupings of riders.
>
> has been changed to:
>
> 6.6.3. Mixing of Classes. An organizer may offer races for combined
> classifications and categories but the categories in a given race must
> be the same for all age groups. Masters Women are specifically
> exempted from this rule. All riders shall race the same distance
> unless there is a distance handicapped start for separate groupings of
> riders.
>
> Please note that this is permissive so promoter's may choose to run
> the Masters Women separately, continue to split the Masters between
> categories or run them with the Cat 4's.
>
> There's been a valid argument that this would allow Cat 1/2 Masters
> to race against Cat 4 Women. However- in practice- this happens very
> rarely as most 1/2 Masters race in their categorized races.
>
> Race radios: as you may have heard USAC has banned race radios from
> their events except for above category and Cat 1 races. We will be
> addressing this issue at the next annual meeting. However- for the
> time being, we are asking that road promoters specifically ban race
> radios in their flyers. We will approve the ban under 1.3 and 1.5 of
> the racing rules.
>
>


T. Kenji Sugahara

2010-02-11

FYI. In case folks wanted more information behind the Masters rule change-
it's listed below. (includes rationale, change and effect)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: T. Kenji Sugahara
Date: Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Subject: Promoter Update
To: ""

Folks-

This is to let you know that the board passed a rule under the
provision that allows the board to make changes if time is of the
essence. During the annual meeting we presented a resolution that
would have repealed 6.6.3. We withdrew the rule as we couldn't
remember the rationale behind the withdrawal. However, while
approving the first few races we realized that the rule actually
creates a rather large problem for the Masters Women. In the past we
allowed all the Masters Women to race with the Cat 4 Women. With
6.6.3 - only Cat 4 Masters could race with the Cat 4's and Cat 1/2/3
Masters could only race with the Cat 1/2/3 women. However, with the
new rule that passed this past session where there is a minimum of 5
racers to have a group scored separately- the consequence was that in
operation, 1/2/3 Masters were essentially eliminated as a field. A
solution would be to run a separate Masters Women's field. However-
that would create another field and increase costs for promoters-
unfairly so. Thus- the board decided to change 6.6.3 to exempt the
Masters Women.

6.6.3. Mixing of Classes. An organizer may offer races for combined
classifications and categories but the categories in a given race must
be the same for all age groups. All riders shall race the same
distance unless there is a distance handicapped start for separate
groupings of riders.

has been changed to:

6.6.3. Mixing of Classes. An organizer may offer races for combined
classifications and categories but the categories in a given race must
be the same for all age groups. Masters Women are specifically
exempted from this rule. All riders shall race the same distance
unless there is a distance handicapped start for separate groupings of
riders.

Please note that this is permissive so promoter's may choose to run
the Masters Women separately, continue to split the Masters between
categories or run them with the Cat 4's.

There's been a valid argument that this would allow Cat 1/2 Masters
to race against Cat 4 Women. However- in practice- this happens very
rarely as most 1/2 Masters race in their categorized races.

Race radios: as you may have heard USAC has banned race radios from
their events except for above category and Cat 1 races. We will be
addressing this issue at the next annual meeting. However- for the
time being, we are asking that road promoters specifically ban race
radios in their flyers. We will approve the ban under 1.3 and 1.5 of
the racing rules.